Marine elevator



- Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,209

H. BARLOW MARINE ELEVATOR Filed Jan 24, 1927 L\ 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3 INVENTOR flung Bar/aw Wuwa 9 B W 9 ATTORNEY Jan. 8, 1929.

H. BARLOW MARINE ELEVATOR Filed Jan. 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 AT ORNEY Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

UNITED I srAras PATENT orricn HARRY BARLOW,'OF PORT MADISON, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO BARLOW MARINE ELEVATOR CO. INC., 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

MARINE ELEVATOR.-

Application filed January 24, 1927. Serial No. 163,291.

My invention relates toa marine elevator. More particularly my invention relates to an extension apron for a marine elevator platform which apron may be caused to move beyond the edge of said platform to brldgea gap between said platform and a deck, said apron beingextendable and retractable automatically in synchronism with the travel of said platform.

For purposes of clearness and definlteness of illustration I will describe a marine application of my invention under conditions obtaining on a dock to which a vessel may be moored for purposes of loading or unloading. However, it will be distinctly understood that my invention is not to be restricted to any such specific application but is co-extensive with all situations where like conditions and problems obtain. My invention is directed particularly tosolving the problem of loading and unloadingvessels where tidal variation obtains. The term Ftidal variation herein includes both the difference in level of fresh water in rivers or lakes where spring freshets and the summer droughts cause great variation in the levels of the water as well as where variation is due to true tidal action occurring daily in the oceans. 7

There are the following situations:

(1) Where the deck of the vessel from or to which the freight is to be moved is above the level of the dockand there is a considerable gap between said deck and the edge of the elevator platform which is to be spanned, a simple and common expedient is to'fix in place on the deck of a vessel a transfer board which extends over said gap, the elevator working up to the under edge of saidtrans fer board. a w

(2) When the deck of the vessel from or to which the freight is to be moved is below the level ofthe dockthen the elevator maybe of such construction that the platform may be capableof being moved outwardly, or

- (3) The platform itself may be provided with means herein called an apronfl which may be extended to bridge the gap-when the platform is on a level with. the deck of the vessel, and which means maybe retracted to clear the upper deck 'of the vessel as the elevator platform travelsto the level of the dock. Furthermore, this extending'and retracting of the extension or apron means must T be done automatically in synchronism with the travel of the elevator platform to satisfy the requirement'as to speed and practical operation of the platform. It will be under- I stood that in'moving freight to or from avessel, it is always done with the utmost speed 1n order notto delay the'vessel in port any longer than absolutely necessary as all time when said vessel is not under Way is considereol loss. I A special difficulty obtains in providing elevator mechanism for docks in that the mechanism must be such as to afford a certain dock elasticity, that is, to permit the dock being swayed or sprungout of its normal posit-ion by contacting the vessel without interfering with the operation of theelevator.

The moving parts must be such as to not be come bound or thrown out-of alignment to an extent that will interfere with their operation. a v

- In providing an extension apron foran elevator platform operating under the said described marine conditions, it is-important that there should be actuating means-for said apron which will cause the same to move to and fro and over the edge of the platform and that the maximum throwout movement of the apron may be provided at any desired level 4 any desired levelintermediate the travel of I? c,

said platform] Furthermore, in'providing' such an extenslon apron for the elevator-platform 1t is important that the mounting of the extension apron and the actuating means for causing said apron to move to and fro automatically in synohronism with the travel of' the elevator platform shall be of a character which will permit the platform to be unintentionally loweredbelow theilevel at which" the maximum apron extension isprovided without inJury to the apron or assoclate'd' mechanism.

In generalpa fundamental object of myinvention is to provide an extension means for an elevator platform which will satisfy all of the practical operating conditions obtaining in practice and as set forth above.

The above general 0b]ects of my mvent on,

together with other inherent in the same, are obtained by the device illustrated in the following drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention throughout which drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts.

i being handled.

Figure 1 represents a view in side elevation of an elevator platform and mounting means embodying my invention, and

Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the drum, attached worm wheel, and worm; and y Fig. 4 is. a view in end elevation of the Worm wheel and cooperating worm.

Beneath the deck 3, the dock hoisting sheaves 4 may be provided at each corner of the elevator well 5. Over these sheaves extend hoisting cables 6 secured to the legs 7 of an elevator platform 8." Thus the platform is provided with suspending means at its four corners. Having the legs 7, provides a. for elevating the platform 8 above the level of the deck 3 of the dock.

Upon the elevator platform 8, is an upper hinged apron 9 which makes sliding contact .with a. second or under apron 10. This under apron 10 is hingedly mounted on a roller 11 which is provided with a trackway 12 which in fact is the flange of an 'H beam 13. The apron means provides for bridging the gap between the edge of the deck 31 of the vessel which may be moored against the dock and the edge of the platform 8. Itwill be understood that the fender logs or rafts which customarily lie along the face of the deck or wharf, prevent the hull of the vessel from directly contacting the face of the dock or wharf so that the space between the vessel and the dock must be bridged when cargo A chain 14 is provided with one end secured to the rear end of apron 10 and reeved over sheave 15 and thence through sheave 16 and then the chain is preferably made fast to a cable 17 which extends over sheaves 18 and 19 and thence through fall block sheave 20 which is mounted in a counterweight 21 and therable then goes to drum 22 which ma. be of any convenient form and may be loo ed in any convenient means, arcommon means being the self-locking worm type of shaft; The threads 35 of the worm 36 are of very small angle and directly mesh with the teeth of worm wheel 37. This counterweight 21 provides for maintaining the associated chain and cabletautj Apron 10 is provided diate the Width of the apron 10. Over this with roller 23 to facilitate its being forced outwardly. A sheave 24, which appears as a dotted line in Fig.1, is mounted intermesheave, a chain 25 passes having one end anchored at 26, and one end secured to a counterweight 27. A relatively very heavy for operation, the operator would then lower the elevator S to a position of a few feet above that shown in Fig. 1. He would then wind up on drum 22 the cable 17 until he causes the counterweight 21 to contact the under side of counterweight 28. Thereupon drum 22 is made fast as this fixes the throwout of the apron 10 automatically while the elevator is thereafter being operated at the given level, and thereupon would lower away the platform 8 which would cause the weight of the counterweight 28 to be borne by cable 17 and chain 14. Since counterweight 28 is relatively much heavier than counterweight 27, it is obvious that the apron 10 would be forced outwardly over roller 23 againstthe tendency ofcounterweight 27 to cause the sameto move backwardly, i. e., when the platform 8 is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 1, the apron would be fully extended forwardly and be caused to bridge completely the gap between the deck ofthe vessel 31 and the face of the dock. l/Vhen the elevator is lifted, obviously a condition of slackness will occur in line 17 andchain 14 which permit s counterweight 27 and its chain 25 to drag backwardly the apron 10 in order to clear the upper deck 32 of the vessel 33. Thereafter, as the elevator moves up and down, the apron 10 will be caused to be retracted and extended automatically. When the tide falls to a lower level then the operator would pay out cable 17 from drum 22 so that a new setting of the block 21 against the block 28 would result in the commencement of the throwout movement of the apronat a lower level. L

In this mounting counterweight28 on cables 29 a safety factor is introduced,because, if perchance the operator should lower the elevator platform 8' below the level of the deck 31 of the vessel, immediately the apron 10 would swing upwardly on its pivotal mounting on roller 11 and the block 21 would be a prompt signal to the operator that he had gone below the desired level, and would then promptly raise thev elevator platform until 7 apron 10 assumed more nearly the horizontal position. It is thus manifest that the mount ing of apron 10 is such as to permit eflicient operation of theplatform 8 even when it is approximately in horizontal position.

It will be understood that the roller 11 of the apron 1O strikes against a stop 34 provided in the trackway 12. Therefore, in a continued descent of the elevator it simply Cir lifts the weight 28 upwardly with the apron fully extended, and as stated above, the same would tend to turn. upwardly on its pivotal mounting on roller 11 and no damage would result.

Obviously changes may-be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only a preferred form of embodiment.

I claim: I

1. In an elevator platform the construction of an apron slidably and hingedly mounted on said platform; and actuating means for saidapron.

nector secured to said apron; sheave means over which said connector extends; and a counterweight operatively mounted on said connector intermediate the ends thereof.

5. In an elevator platform the construction of an apron slidably and hingedly mounted on said platform; actuating means for said.

apron which imparts automatically a to and fro movement to said apron in synchronism with the travelof said platform, said means including a flexible connector secured to said apron; sheave means over which said connector extends; and a counterweight operatively mounted on said connector intermediate the ends thereof.

6. An elevator platform embodying an apron hingedly mounted; asecond apron slidably and hingedly mounted thereunder; actuating means for said second apron, said means including a flexible connector secured to said second apron; sheave means over which said connector extends; and a counterweight operatively mounted on said connector intermediate the ends thereof.

'7. In an elevator platform the construction of an apron slidably and hingedly mounted on said platform; actuating means for said apron, said means including a sheave mounted on said apron; a counterweight and a fiexibleconector having one end fixedly secured to said platform and the other end on said platform; actuating means for said.

apron which imparts automatically a to and fro movement to said apron in synchronism with the travel of said platform, said means including a sheave mounted on said apron; and a counterweight and a flexible connector having one end fixedly secured to said platform and the other end secured to said counterweight. I V

9. An elevator platform embodying an apron hingedly mounted; a second apron slidably and hingedly mounted thereunder; actuating means for said second apron, said means including a sheave mounted on said second apron; and acounterweight and a flexible connector having one end fixedly secured to said platform and the other end secured to said counterweight.

10. In an elevator platform the construc tion of an apron slidably and hingedly mounted on said platform; actuating meansv for said apron, said means including a flexi ble connector secured to said apron; sheave means over which said connector extends;

a counterweight operatively mounted on said connector intermediate the ends thereof; a sheave mounted on said apron; a second counterweight; and a flexible connect-or hav ing one end fixedly secured to said'platform and the other end secured to said secondcoun-L tion of an apron slidably and hingedly mounted on said platform; actuating means for said apron which imparts automatically a to and fro movement to said apron in synchronism with the travel of said platform; said means including a flexible connector secured to said apron; sheave means over which said connector extends; a counterweight op,-

eratively mount-ed on said connector interme diate the ends thereof; a sheave mounted on said apron; a second counterweight; and a flexible connector having one end fixedly-secured to said platform and the other end seactuating means for'said second apron, said means including a flexible connector secured to said second apron; sheave means over which said connector extends; a counterweight operatively mounted on said connec tor intermediate the ends thereof; a sheave mounted on said apron; a second counterweight; and a flexible connector having one end fixedly secured to said platform and the other end secured to said second counterweight whereby a to and fro movement is antomatically imparted to said apron in synchronism with the travel of said platform.

13. Inan elevator platform the combination of an apron slidably mounted on said platform; and actuating means for said apron having parts which operate in opposition to each other whereby a to and fro movement is automatically imparted to said apron in synchronism with the travel of said platform.

14. In an elevator platform the combine tion of an apron slidably' and hingedly mounted on said platform; and actuating means for said apron havingparts which operate in opposition toeaclr other whereby a to and fro movement is automatically 1mparted to said apron in synchronism with the travel of said platform; and an adjusting means for said actuating means whichmay be set to provide for the maximum th'rowout movement of said apron at any desired level of the platform, and when so set without further adjusting automatically provides for said maximum throwout at said selected level while said elevator is caused to. travel between said selected level and any other desired level.

15; In an elevator platform the combination of an apron slid ably and hingedly mounted on said platform actuating means for said apronhaving parts which operate in op'pos tlon to each other whereby a to and saidplatform; and an adjusting means for said actuating means, said adjusting means consisting of a drum to which the end of'said first named connector means is secured.

16. In an elevator platform the combination of an :apron slidably and hingedly named connector means is secured, said drum means having a worm gear fixedly secured thereto said worm meshing with a wor whereby said drum is selflockin 17. In an elevator platform the construction of an apron slidably and hingedly mounted on said platform; actuating means for said apron, said means including a flexible connector vsecured to said apron; sheave means over which said connector extends; a

counterweight operatively mounted on said connector intermediate the ends thereof; a sheave mounted on said apron; a second counterweight of lighter weight than said first named counterweight; and a fiexibleconnectorhaving one. end fixedly secured to said 7 platform and the other end secured to said second counterweight whereby a to and fro movement is automatically lmparted to said apron in synchronism with the travel of said platform.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of January, A. D. 1927.

HARRY BARLOW. 

